The letters page in this edition of Grocott's Mail carries a letter from a member of the community writing about Makana Municipal Manager Ntombi Baart.
The letter is one of many written about Baart during the past few months, as the focus shifts from Acting CFO Namhla Dlulane to Baart.
The letters page in this edition of Grocott's Mail carries a letter from a member of the community writing about Makana Municipal Manager Ntombi Baart.
The letter is one of many written about Baart during the past few months, as the focus shifts from Acting CFO Namhla Dlulane to Baart.
Both women are being accused of "ruling" the municipality with an iron fist – which is why Samwu took to the streets about two weeks ago with grievances in hand about alleged favouritism and victimisation of employees.
The letter-writer states many reasons why he believes Baart should be suspended, as has Ngcelwane. Some of the reasons include the fact that the municipality has been receiving terrible audit reports from the Auditor General.
One of Samwu's demands was for Baart to provide the terms of reference in terms of which the municipality's CFO, Jackson Ngcelwane, was suspended.
Ngcelwane has been out of his job on full pay for more than four months and the municipality has not explained the charges, or the reason for his suspension. Hopefully the special council meeting to be held on Thursday afternoon will shed some light on this. The meeting was to have been held today, but was cancelled.
Sources have reliably informed us that Baart and Dlulane will shed some light on the municipality's finances and procurement processes over the years.
Like everyone we are grateful that finally this matter will be settled.
We have, during the past three months tried in vain to get the story behind the story from the municipality without any success.
Hopefully after Thursday's meeting the matter will be laid to rest and the community of Grahamstown will know exactly who has been taking them for a ride.
This Friday our municipal reporter Prudence Mini will report on the selection of a member of the community for a high-level position in the municipality – even though the candidate did not qualify for the job. There are even allegations of nepotism being made – watch out for Friday's edition.
